7.6.15

postcard project


My mom has been going through chemotherapy treatments.  Again.  This is her third round in four years, but who's counting? There's no way to candy-coat it or make it pretty by tying on a pink, lavender or whatever color ribbon.  The t-shirts, hats & buttons from these folks pretty much say it all.

What makes it even more difficult is that my parents live nearly 400 miles away -- far enough that I cannot be there on a regular basis to visit or help.  And so from my kitchen table, I try to think of what I can do. I wish I could flip over my pencil to the eraser side, walk over to my mother's MRI scans and go, "Erase, erase, erase, erase." I call every day and have sent books, pajamas, necklaces, and artwork by my children, but truly, gifts hold little meaning when the only thing any of us wants is for this to go away.


Besides wanting the cancer to go away, what she really wants is us; she would like to see me, my husband & children and my brother as often as possible.  I thought & thought about it, and after a few days, I came up with something which, in my head, I call "The Bubbe Project."  (Note: "Bubbe" -- rhymes with hubby. It is the Yiddish word for grandmother and it's what my children call my mother.)

For the project, I compiled a set of recent photos of my children and had post cards made using the photo-images. Every few days my children write messages on a card or two, and then we drop the cards in the mail.  Now, in addition to our daily phone calls, she gets photos (real photos, not digital) several times a week.  It's not the same as daily visits, but it's been fun and has brought joy.

If you would like to do a similar project, here's how:  I used the online printing service called Moo Cards because, with Moo Cards you can order a set of postcards with a different image on each card.  I am not receiving any sort of compensation for suggesting Moo Cards -- I just like them a lot (I've been ordering business cards from them for years).


Do you have any suggestions for ways to send comfort & joy to someone dear who lives too far away?
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11 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 8, 2015 at 1:59 AM

    Hello,
    Before beginning, my english langage is very bad because I'm french. But I just want to tell you : you makes lots for your mom and I'm sure she know what you do. She fells your love, your family attentions for her and even you can't be with her, in her heart, there is lots of love and lots of persons. You understand ?
    When my aunt was ill, I phoned her and I did home-self card like you. She knew I did what I could.
    If you permise me, I'll pray (prier) for her and for your family. Keep courage and keep hope.
    Bises à vous et à votre maman
    Christine

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    1. m. bloomJune 9, 2015 at 8:10 PM

      Thank you dear Christine for your kind words and prayers!
      xo

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  2. quazymamaJune 8, 2015 at 5:06 AM

    I love this idea - what a wonderful way to send some support. When we were dating, my husband used to send me a postcard every day or so that had one letter written on it. As they arrived, I was supposed to piece together the hidden message - often a sentiment of love. I used this idea to send a mystery message to my in laws on their 50th anniversary. We used postcards from the places they lived and talked about during their married years.

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    1. m. bloomJune 9, 2015 at 8:11 PM

      Such fun ideas for post cards! Thank you for sharing these sweet stories --
      xo

      Delete
  3. eidolonsJune 8, 2015 at 5:39 AM

    Biggest of hugs to you, your mother, and your entire family. Sending all my best healing thoughts.

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  4. KarenrnJune 8, 2015 at 8:14 AM

    Thoughts and prayers to you! Speaking as a grandmother I love this idea. Pictures of the grandkids make me feel very in touch with them. And the postcards sent everyday makes the anticipation of the mail coming is really fun. Once when I was on a strict budget I sent my husband a card everyday a week before his birthday. He thought it was great and still has the cards. Anything hand made by the grandkids is a great idea also.

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    1. m. bloomJune 9, 2015 at 8:13 PM

      Thanks Karen -- We flew down to visit my mother this weekend and she had all the photo-cards & artwork we had sent taped up in the kitchen.

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  5. StaceyJune 10, 2015 at 10:03 AM

    I'm so sorry to hear about your mom, and I will keep all of you in my thoughts. My parents aren't ill but they don't live near us & don't see the kids more than about twice a year. In between visits, in addition to emailing photos, I sometimes pack up some of the artwork the kids do in school (after taking photos for posterity, of course) and send it off to them. It's a different way for them to watch the kids grow, seeing the scribbles turn into objects, and formless blobs with smiles turn into more human-like beings.

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  6. ginnyJune 11, 2015 at 10:05 AM

    Margaret you are a sweet and thoughtful daughter. I love getting mail and I am sure your mom does too. I will keep her in my prayers.

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  7. MJohanJune 14, 2015 at 4:32 PM

    You can also print your own postage stamps, with your own artwork, photo (kids, pet, peg dolls!) or just text. available at http://usps.us/206. Funny, amazing to get on mail, a wonderful mystery.

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